Overview

Established in 1844 as the New York State Normal School, UAlbany is the oldest school in the SUNY system. Its first classes were held in an abandoned railroad depot. Today it is home to almost 13,000 undergrads, who enjoy offerings from nine colleges and schools. Notably, UAlbany is a pioneer in nanotechnology research and ranks among the world leaders in the field. Minerva (the Roman goddess of crafts and wisdom) has long been a symbol of the school, and a treasured nineteenth-century statue of the goddess is housed in the Science Library.